Chris-Craft Research Assistance
The Chris-Craft name is synonymous with speed and craftsmanship. For more than sixty years, this worldwide boating empire, founded by Christopher Columbus Smith, was a leader in producing powered pleasure boats.
The archives of Chris-Craft Industries were acquired by the Museum in 1986. Comprising more than 350 linear feet of records, this collection is considered one of the most complete histories of a boatbuilding company. The collection covers all models produced by Chris-Craft from 1922 through 1980 and consists of the major components listed below.
Chris-Craft staff at The Mariners’ search the company archives to prepare research packages tailored to a specific Chris-Craft boat. The research is based upon the Chris-Craft hull identification number and/or the original engine serial number. If you would like to order a Chris-Craft research package, you must provide the hull number. Failure to do this will necessitate additional correspondence, delaying your research since the Chris-Craft Corporation filed the permanent record of each boat by this number.
What materials are available from the Chris-Craft Collection?
- Boat equipment record “Hull Card”
- Plans and drawings
- Photographs
- Research Package consists of photocopies of the following types of primary documents, depending upon the quantity of archival information available for a specific boat:
- Boat equipment record “Hull Card”
- Sales literature
- Original price sheet
- Black and white production photographs
- Original engine information
How do I find the Chris-Craft Hull Number?
The locations of the hull numbers are as follows:
- On a metal plate attached to the underside of the engine hatch cover or engine box on single-engine models and on a metal plate attached to the underside of the starboard engine hatch cover or engine box on twin-engine models.
- Stamped into the aft surface of the forward header of the engine hatch on single-engine models and stamped into the aft surface of the forward header of the port engine hatch on twin-engine models.
- Stamped into the top edge of the engine stringer starboard adjacent to engine coupling on single-engine models and stamped into the top edge of the inboard stringer, port engine, adjacent to engine coupling on twin-engine models.
- Either on top of wood towing bitt, aft face of bow block, extreme-forward inboard surface of port toe rail, or aft face of stem midway between chine and sheer.
- SPORT BOATS AND RUNABOUTS – Stamped into the forward surface of the aft deck beam if the seat back is removable.
- On the exterior surface of the port bow, just aft of the stem and slightly below and parallel to the sheer.
- Stamped into the engine mounting pad, in the case of outboard-powered boats, and into a transom frame or suitable wood member in this area. Where no wood surface is readily available, the number will be glassed into the transom on the inboard side.
- On the interior surface of the port hull side, forward of the foremost bulkhead. Numbers are glassed over with glass cloth impregnated with clear resin.
- Outboard-powered models of the sailboat division will also have the number stamped into the engine mounting pad.
How do I request Chris-Craft Research Assistance?
Fill out the form below and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Links to Other Chris-Craft Resources
Contact Us
Chris-Craft
[email protected]
(757) 591-7785
